Fifth wheel



March 2, 1937. G WALTHER ET AL 2,072,661

I FIFTH WHEEL l Y Filed Jan. s, 1934 2 sheersrsheet 1 aNvENTzs/v l BWM //mf W ATTORNEY March 2, 1937. G. wALTHl-:R ET AL 2,072,661

` FIFTH WHEEL i Filed Jan. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvrzN-roR'sl 76,.; ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 1937 FIFTH WHEEL George Walther, near Dayton, and Elmer L. Miller, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to The Dayton Steel Foundry Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 8, 1934, Seriall No. 705,726'

2 Claims. (Cl. BSU-33.1)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a tractor semi-trailer fifth wheel, and more particularly to a resiliently mounted fifth wheel structure including a positively controlled disengaging means for the trailer unit fifth wheel member. A principal object of this invention is to provide for a fifth wheel structure, a novel resilient mounting including fixed rubber blocks in which lo all the rubber is used to support the superimposed weight, thereby eiiciently eliminating shock to the power plant of the tractor, injury to the contents of the trailer and noise 'incident to the vibration of the mounting means.

- Another principal object of our invention is to provide positive locking means for retaining the king pin. in engagement with the fth-wheel structure.

-It is still another object of the invention to provide release means in combination with the locking means, to permit an easy one-man operation of the tractor and trailer when coupling .or uncoupling the latter.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide simple means for adjusting the transverse position of the supporting brackets to accommodate tractor channel frames of varyingl widths.

Another object of our invention is to provide 3o an electrical insulated connection between the tractor and the trailer, through the rubber mounting means in the fifth wheel construction. i- Other important objects of this invention will be set forth in the following specification and in the claims annexed thereto.

in the accompanying drawings illustrating our invention in its preferred form, Figure 1 is a top plan view of our fifth wheel structure as applied to a tractor. Figure 2 Iis a transverse section through the iifth wheel structure taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the fifth wheel structure, and taken on the line t, t, t, 3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a side View of a tractor and trailer, partiallyr broken away, and showing our fth wheel structure employed with the two vehicles. Figure 5 is a perspective View of our improved fth wheel structure. Figure 6 is a detail view, in section, Yshowing the king pin in engagement with the fifth wheel structure.

- in perspective, of the locking device. Figure 8 1 is a perspective view of one of the swivel 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of Figure '7 is a detail view,l

the cushion frames for attachment to the tractorV And Figure 11 is a sectional view taken numeral I designates a conventional tractor unit to whose rearwardly extending channel frame 2 our improved fifth wheel structure 3 is secured. by means such as U bolts 4 substantially above the rear axle of the tractor. (See Figure 4).

A king pin 5 is secured to the under side of a.

trailer or semi-trailer body t in a position to depend therefrom on the longitudinal axisV adiacent its forward end. l f

Our improved fth Wheel structure comprises a base l having substantially a smooth top surface 8 with oppositely disposed oil grooves 9 and lil formed therein. The base ll has formed integral therewith opposite lateral projections lli, ii reinforced by a peripheral flange l2 encompassing the base l, and radial ribs i2a projecting toward the center of the latter. (See Figures l and 2).

Depending from each of the projections il are spaced, apertured pivot members it, it, pivotally connected by a stud it with similarly spaced pivot arms it, l5. The latter are supported by, and project above, the top of a swivel bracket it positioned at each side of the base ll. These plvoted connections provide a horizontal axis disposed transversely of the tractor and permit the base l to assume an inclined position when disengaged from the trailer, thus facilitating the coupling and u ncoupling of the latter. Furthermore, such a pivotal connection relieves all bend- .ing stresses in the king pin 5 and its related parts when the tractor and trailer pass over uneven ground. (See Figures l, 2 and 4) Each swivel bracket I6 is provided with a rectangular base il, whose opposite ends are beveled inwardly toward the lower face of said base. This base is then received by a close-ntting aperture i8 in the top face of a pre-moulded resilient block It, such as rubber, and whose walls totally encompass the block, except its top face on which the arms i5, l5 are formed. The blocks i9, iii are positioned below the swivel brackets I6, I6, each bracket it being maintained in engagement with its respective block by a surrounding frame or saddle 2t in which the block is tightly fitted.

Each saddle 2li comprises a closed rectangular l casing 2l provided with an opening 22 in its top face, substantially large enough to permit a relatively free movement in any direction of the arms I5, i5 that project through it. (See Figures 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 and 10).

Adjacent its lower face the saddle has narnow side flanges 23, 23 and a wide ilange 24 at each end thereof. These end flanges 24, 24 are engaged by the U bolts 4 when the saddles are positioned' on the top of the tractor channel frames 2 for attachment to the latter. (See Figures 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, and l0) The base 1, when pivotally mounted on the swivel brackets i6, I6 and cushioned as previously described, will be yieldable in any direction to effectively minimize all shocks or vibrations induced in the structure. 'I'he resilient `bloclrs I9, i9 are introduced to their respective saddles 20. through an opening provided in its lower face for that purpose. This opening is then closed by a flat plate 25 welded or otherwise secured in place before assembling on the chassis. (See Figures 2, 3 and 10). Each rubber block i9 is entirely below the weight which it carries, so that all the rubber may be utilized to` support this weight.

The base 1 is elongated rearwardly in a wide converging portion 26 that has a centrally disposed longitudinal V-'shaped opening 21 which is formed at its inner end With a constricted passage 28 through which the king pin 5 passes to the locking means. The opposite sides of the opening 21 are reinforced by ribs 29, 29 formed beneath its edges and projecting toward the center of the base wl'iere their lower edges are united by a horizontal wall 29* below the pas- (See Figures 2-and 5.)

Substantially at the center of the base 1, but offset laterally with respect to the passage 28, is a circular recess 30 with whose conning side wail 3i the ribs I2* and 29 are joined. Rotatably mounted on a stud 32 in the bottom of the recess 30, is a lock disc 33, below the face 8 of the base'and intercepting the inner end of the passage 28. The wear of the lock disc is distributed to all parts of the s urface of the wall of the recess 30 which confines it; and if the stud 32 should break, the recess would still hold the disc.

Formed in the periphery of the disc 33 is a king pin retaining recess 34 whose rearward conilning wall 35 forms a hook-shaped projection of the disc to retain the king pin therein when the disc is rotated to that position shown by the solid lines in Figure 1.

When turned to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, the opposite straight side 36 of the recess 34 will be engaged by the king pin 5 as it advances through the passage '28, for rotation by said king pin to the full line position shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7. When in this position a wide recess 31, also formedin the periphery of the disc 33, will be engaged by a spring tensioned lock plunger '38, oppositely disposed to the passage 28, to prevent a counter movement of the disc, which thus retains the king pin 5.

The plunger 38 is slidably mounted on a boss 33 formed on the underside of the base 1, said boss entering an elongated slot 40 in the plunger. A bolt 4i and washer 42 retain the plunger in position on the boss 39.

The opposite end of the plunger 39 has welded or otherwise attached thereto a guide rod 43 positioned radially with respect to the disc 33 and supported at its outer free end in an aperture formed in a bracket 44 projecting from the forward flange i 2 on the base 1. Movement of the rod 43 is arrested by a safety latch 45 pivotally secured to the face of the bracket 44 and actuated by gravity to drop in front of the aperture for the rod, thus preventing its outward movement except when it is purposely raised by the operator. (See Figures 1, 3, 6 and 7.)

In order to withdraw from the recess 31 in the disc 33, the plunger 38, which is forced toward the disc by a compression spring 46 surrounding the guide rod 43 between the former and the projection 44, we have provided the following means. Yieldably attached to a boss 41 on the underside of the base 1, is a release bar 48 projecting transversely beneath the base 1 and projecting a sufficient distance to be reached by the operator. This bar 48 is received between fingers 49, 49 formed on an arm 50 at the outer end of the plunger, so -that when the free end of the release bar is moved toward the tractor, the plunger 38 will be withdrawn from the recess 31 in the disc 33. (See Figures l, 6 and 7).

When the plunger is withdrawn from the recess 31, the following means will prevent its re-entrance under the influence of the spring 46. Adjacent one side of the plunger 38 We have positioned a latch finger 5| which is pivoted at its center on a boss 52 formed on the underside of the base 1.

` One end of the latch fingler 5i projects over the periphery of the disc 33 into the path 0f a release pin 53 projecting axially from the outer face of the latter. Also secured to this end of the latch finger is a tension spring 54 whose other end is secured to a pin 55 fixed in the base 1. This spring 54 will cause the opposite end of the latch linger 5I to bear against a stop 56 provided on the top face of the plunger 38. Now, when the plunger 39 is withdrawn from the recess as previously described, the stop 56 will be withdrawn beyond the end of the latch finger 5i, and the spring 54'will cause said finger to vrotate sufficiently to engage the stop 5S and prevent the re-entry of the plunger 38 into the recess. (See Figures 1, 3, 6 and 7).

By this mechanism the truck operator may, single handed, release the lock plunger 38 from engagement with the recess 31, permitting a free revolution of the disc 33. The operator may then disengage the tractor from the trailer without the assistance of another person.

When the king pin 5 is withdrawn from the recess 34, the disc 33 will be rotated clockwise, and this rotation will cause the release pin 53 to engage the inner end of the latch linger 5| and force its opposite end out of engagement with the stop 56 on the plunger 38.

After the plunger 38 is thus released the spring 54 will cause it to ride on the periphery of the disc 33 until it is rotated in a reverse direction by the re-entry of a king pin 5 into the recess 34. This will again bring the recess 31 into alinement with the plunger for engagement by it (See Figure 5.)

'I'he king pin 5 employed with our improved fifth wheel structure, consists of a cylindrical shank 59 integral with a circulartop plate 60. This plate is intended to be riveted or otherwise secured to the top surface of an extended plate 6i that is secured to the underside of the trailer body 6-and essentially at its front end. When thus attached to the trailer body, the stresses incident to operation with a tractor are uniformly communicated to the trailer body.

aofiaeei "the cylindrical shank t9 beneath the plate tl has therein an annular recess 62 forming a reduced shoulder tit. The diameter of this slioul-l der is slightly less than the width of the recess 3d in which itis received. When thus positioned in the recess @t ot the disc 33, the king pin '5 is arrested against axial movement by the adjacent shoulders 6d and 65 formed by the larger shank 5d above and below the disc 33. (See Figures 5 and 6).

'When the trailer is connected with a tractor, the hing pin El is guided in the direction indicatedbythe arrow in Figure 5 into proper registry with the disc 33, by the sliding engagement of the smooth lower face of the plate 6i with the ilat top ti of the base ll, such sliding engagement being facilitated by the lubrication supplied from the grooves t and it. (See Figure 5).

When it is desired to attach our improved iifth wheel structure to a tractor having a wider frame spacing than that relatively shown in Figure 2, the bolts it, it may be removed and the swivel brackets it, it reeattaehed, with the inner arm l5 of each positioned between the spaced apertured members it, i3, instead -of the outer arm it as shown in Figure l1. The washers I4, when removed, need not be reapplied. Thus we can accommodate our fifth wheel structure to tractors of different widths without changing the bolts or rocker pins it.

As one way of utilizing one of the rubber blocks it asA an insulator for a continuous electrical ground connection between the semi-trailer and the vehicle, we have formed in that block a through hole tt. Fitted in this hole is a compression contact spring 67 which is continuously in contact at its top and bottom with the bracket member base il and the plate 25 respectively, to provide an electrical ground through them for the trailer lights (not shown).

in Figure l1 we have not only shown how the idfth wheel structureA is attached to a tractor having a wider frame spacing, but a base 'l whose l through holes in the lower ends of which the shaft it passes to assist in supporting the middie portion oi said base.

Having described our invention, we claim:

l. In a ith 'wheel for connecting a semitrailer to a'vehicle, a hat base member pivotally secured to said vehicle, said base member formed with a central circular recess from which a passage extends, a locir disc rotatable in said recess and formed with a peripheral slot and a peripheral recess in spaced relation, a king pin pro-l jecting downwardly from the semi-trailer for entrance into the peripheral slot in the disc through the passage in the base, a spring-pressed bolt adapted to engage in the peripheral recess in the disc to locir the latter after it is'rotated by the king pin, a hand-operated member for withdrawing said bolt from the recess in the disc, automatic means for holding said bolt in its retracted position, and means carried by the lock disc for engagement with the automatic bolt holding means to release the bolt for contact with the periphery of the disc after the peripheral recess therein has been moved beyond the bolt.

2. In a iifth wheel for connecting a semitrailer to a vehicle, a hat base member pivotally secured to the vehicle. said base member formed with a central circular recess from which a passage extends, a lock disc rotatable in said recess and formed with a peripheral slot and a peripheral recess in spaced relation, a lring pin projecting downwardly from the semi-trailer for entrance into the peripheral slot in the disc through the passage in the base, a spring-pressed bolt adapted to engage in the peripheral recess in' the disc to lock the latter after it is rotated by the king pin, a hand-operated member for withdrawing said bolt from the recess in the disc, a fulcrumed lever projected over the disc, a spring secured to one end of said lever for forcing its other end in the path of inward movement of the bolt, anda release pin on said disc for engagement with said lever, to withdraw the latter from engagement with the holt, after the disc has been rotated a suicient distance to move its bolt-receiving recess beyond the bolt.

GEORGE 'wAL'rIIEnl ELMER nV man. 

